Considering the state of the beastmen recently, even if a war occurred, n.o.buhide would always be on the side of the Wolf tribe. In the worst case scenario, he was worried that the beastmen with weapons might start a rebellion.
Even though it was like that.
―― Eh?
He was surprised. It felt as if there was a hole in his heart.
At the place where n.o.buhide faced, there was a wolfman aiming an arrow at him. He seemed about to release it any moment.
There was a phrase about time flowing slowly. There was probably less than a second to the wolfman releasing the arrow. But, for some reason, n.o.buhide could clearly feel every grain of sand dancing in the sky.
(I need to escape from that arrow’s line of fire..!)
What controlled n.o.buhide was not about the traitor being from the Wolf tribe, but how he must avoid the arrow. It was an emotion about protecting himself.
The distance was about ten meters. From the distance and the length of time he sensed, n.o.buhide had an illusion that the arrow could be easily avoided.
However, regrettably, no matter how n.o.buhide tried to move his body, his body remained strangely still.
(Why, why?!)
He became fl.u.s.tered. Whenever he thought about speeding up, his body did not responded to that command.
(Will I die here?)
n.o.buhide thought desperately.
He was wearing a bulletproof vest. But, what about his face? What about his neck? Once he was seized by anxiety, he began to doubt about the reliability of the bulletproof vest.
When he became conscious of his own, impending death, the events that occurred after he had arrived in this world suddenly began to whirl around his mind like a revolving lantern. They were mostly about the time n.o.buhide had spent with the beastmen.
At first, it was only for his self-interests. In order to increase the funds and the population, he accepted them. He did not trust them. It was merely a mutually beneficial relationship.
However, n.o.buhide felt a sense of intimacy after living with them, especially for the Wolf tribe. He started to trust them as if they were his own family. But, the reality in front of him now denied those thoughts.
(Was it a mistake to believe in the Wolf tribe..?”
He did not know why the wolfman in front of him turned against him. However, only regret was present in n.o.buhide’s heart.
And the arrow was released.
The arrows seemed to tear up the air around it as it roared and sped towards n.o.buhide’s body.
At that moment...
He felt an impact from the side, and fell down without resistance.
What happened?
n.o.buhide could not understand that immediately.
(That hurts...)
A dull pain ran through him as he hit the ground hard. But, there was no other pain. While only confusion remained in his mind, the other thing n.o.buhide could understand was that he was safe.
n.o.buhide tried to stand up instinctively as the thought of being saved came to his mind.
“Eh..?” He uttered as he gaped.
n.o.buhide, whose torso was raised, spontaneously spotted the figure of a wolf tribe member who had fallen like himself.
But, what was different was an arrow stuck deeply in the side of her upper body armor. The red blood that flowed from her wound was soaking the stone walls like a grotesque painting.
“Mira!” Someone’s voice, likely from the wolf tribe, resounded.
The moment the arrow was released, Mira had thrown her body at n.o.buhide, and saved him. At the expense of her body, that is.
“Fu-Fujiwarsama!” Jiharu raised his voice as he ran towards n.o.buhide.
At the same time, the surrounding people began to move. On the other hand, the criminal who fired the arrow panicked.
“YOU b.a.s.t.a.r.d! GOBI!” The criminal, Gobi, was being surrounded and held down immediately.
In the meantime, n.o.buhide was able to stand up after being helped up by Jiharu despite his hazy consciousness.
It was a betrayal by the Wolf tribe, or at least, that was what he thought. However, he was saved by the same Wolf tribe. Even Jiharu’s voice and expression just now were clearly those of worry.
“So this is not a betrayal by the wolf tribe, huh..?” n.o.buhide muttered.
Then, Gobi, who was pressed to the ground, recovered his sanity and his expression became clear.
It’s not my fault. It was such a face.
Furthermore Gobi roared.
“NOW IS THE TIME TO REGAIN THE PRIDE OF THE BEASTMEN! LET’S DEFEAT FUJIWARA ― THE HUMAN, AND MAKE THIS PLACE OUR UTOPIA!”
Killing n.o.buhide would make the town truly belong to the beastmen. The words that Gobi spoke were words of betrayal.
But, the response of other Wolf tribesmen were unfavourable. In n.o.buhide eyes, everyone seemed dumbfounded by that declaration.
Suddenly, the gong above the north gate sounded loudly. When n.o.buhide looked to see what happened, it turned out that the one sounding the gong was the one of the Rac.o.o.n tribesmen.
The Racc.o.o.n tribe pointed their weapons at the Wolf tribe with hostility. No, they were aiming their hostility at n.o.buhide.
n.o.buhide finally understood. The gong was the signal of the start of the rebellion. Only the Wolf tribe was not aware of that.
“What the h.e.l.l is this?! What do you intend to do?!” Jiharu shouted at the Racc.o.o.n tribe.
Then, the Racc.o.o.n tribe’s chief stepped forward.
“Jiharu. Everyone except for the Wolf tribe is on this side. Now then, hand over Fujiwara... Hand over that human.” The Racc.o.o.n tribe’s chief paused. “You know what? We will arrange for his life to be spared. Unlike the Fish tribe and the others, we have a merciful heart.”
Jiharu and the chief of the Racc.o.o.n tribe were facing each other, and n.o.buhide could see the face of the Racc.o.o.n tribe’s chief clearly.
n.o.buhide remembered when the twin camel babies were born. They had cried and laughed together. Yet, what was in front of him now was the chief of the Racc.o.o.n tribe who only harbored hostility in his eyes.
The chief of the Racc.o.o.n tribe continued his demands with a sneer.
“Now, hurry up. All the cannons are being aimed here now. Even if you stay on the side of humans, you will not be able to win.”
As if to prove the truth of his words, loud voices echoed from their surroundings.
“DEFEAT THE HUMAN! THE TOWN BELONGS TO BEASTMEN!”
“DEFEAT THE HUMAN! THE TOWN BELONGS TO BEASTMEN!”
“DEFEAT THE HUMAN! THE TOWN BELONGS TO BEASTMEN!”
[TL: this is the best. I like to translate repeating chant, all I need is copy and paste]
A chorus resounded. The loud chants of the beastmen came from east and west of the stone walls.
The same also happened from under the stone walls. The Goblin tribe who was entrusted with supplies also screamed to bring down n.o.buhide.
They were really surrounded by enemies. Even n.o.buhide understood with his dazed head.
Then Jiharu looked back toward Gobi, before turning his attention to n.o.buhide. n.o.buhide does not understand what was reflected in his eyes anymore.
(What were all the things I have done for until now?)
From within n.o.buhide’s chest was an intense ache. There was no power inside his body, and he simply froze on the spot.
The sound of a rough breath reached n.o.buhide’s ears. It belonged to Mira, who had protected him.
n.o.buhide approached Mira while staggering. She seemed to be trying to cling onto something.
(Why did she help me?)
He thought that she hated humans. He thought that he was hated by her. But, she had sacrificed herself to save him.
Why?
n.o.buhide couldn’t find the answer, and more questions arose in his mind instead.
Mira’s palm was still warm. There might still be a way to save her.
At that moment.
“WE ARE WITH FUJIWARSAMA!” Chief Jiharu declared loudly.
n.o.buhide’s eyes widened and and turned to look at the him. He could see the back of Chief Jiharu’s who was pointing his spear at the Racc.o.o.n tribe’s chief.
Even though he always complained that he was old, his back was st.u.r.dier than anyone else’s.
Following Chief Jiharu, the other wolfmen also raised their voices in support of their chief.
“WE ARE WITH FUJIWARSAMA!”
“WE WILL FIGHT WITH FUJIWARSAMA!”
They became louder and louder, penetrating to the marrow of n.o.buhide’s bones.
That was not all. At that time, Mira, whose hand was being held by n.o.buhide, squeezed back a little.
It was very weak. But, it was powerful feeling for n.o.buhide.
(Not yet.)
n.o.buhide thought.
It was not over yet. Mira’s hand was so warm.
(We are still alive. I still have my companions. I should do what I can do.)
A strange power gushed forth from inside his body. He overflowed with energy.
“EVERYONE, JUST FOR A WHILE! PLEASE PROTECT ME!” n.o.buhide cried out and summoned [Town Data].
The wolf tribesmen surrounded him swiftly to protect him. Then, n.o.buhide used his ability in public for the first time.
◆
When the gong signalling the start of the rebellion sounded from the north, the beastmen on the stone walls in the east and west gathered to the north, leaving only the artillerymen behind.
Presently, the chief of the Deer tribe was managing the artillerymen on the eastern stone walls. He was still young, only a little bit over 30 years old.
He constantly won prizes at the compet.i.tion that was held every year, and finally, he defeated the person from the Leopard tribe, and took first for the short distance race this year. He was related to the previous chief, and with his achievement in that compet.i.tion, he became a chief while still young.
“The alteration of the target has been completed!” The artillerymen reported.
The young chief merely gave a satisfied sound of agreement in response.
At this time, all the cannons were aimed at the north gate. Of course, they didn’t have any intentions to fire the cannons just like that. If they fired the cannons, they might be able to subjugate n.o.buhide easily, but at the cost of serious damage to the northern walls. If the northern walls collapse, the battle with the Shugurin Dukedom would be tough.
After all, they did not have any intentions of being ruled by the Shugurin Dukedom. If they lost, then the ruler of this town would only be changed from n.o.buhide to the Shugurin Dukedom.
The plan for the rebellion was proposed by the Fish tribe. First, Gobi from the Wolf tribe will attempt to a.s.sa.s.sinate n.o.buhide. If that fails, all the beastmen will surrounded n.o.buhide and prompt him to surrender. When n.o.buhide refuses to surrender and has taken up arms, they will use the cannons as the last resort after the rest of the beastmen escape from the northern stone walls.
“It would be good if things go smoothly...” The young chief muttered while looking towards the north.
The gong rang. That meant that the a.s.sa.s.sination had failed. If n.o.buhide resisted till the very end, many people will have be sacrificed.
(As expected, I should have prevented this...)
A thought suddenly appeared at the corner of the young chief’s mind.
He felt grat.i.tude towards n.o.buhide even if he does not have good relations like the Wolf tribe.
(To regret when it has already reached this state...)
The young chief shook his head lightly to disperse the thought.
He had agreed with the rebellion due to following the momentum of the other older chiefs. Even if he was called weak-willed, it couldn’t be helped.
However, he couldn’t turn back anymore. The cards have already been shown. There was nothing to left to regret at this point.
The young chief grasps the pendant hanging down his chest. It was the honor he obtained when he took first place.
The young chief could keep his heart calm when he grasped the pendant. It was because that pendant was his pride; it made him confident.
Then...
Suddenly, the young chief felt something unusual from the other hand that was not grasping at his pendant.
The weight of the spear which he was holding disappeared, and in exchange, he felt something muddy take its place. He also saw an abnormality from the edge of his sight.
The young chief immediately turned his eyes to his right hand.
“W-What is this?!” He exclaimed in astonishment.
Somehow, the short spear in his hand had turned into mud.
“Uwaa! My spear!”
“The... The bow disappeared!”
Voices of surprise could also be heard from the surroundings. As he turned to see what had happened to the rest, the artillerymen also panicked.
“Don’t tell me... All the weapons..?!” The young chief gasped.
As the short spear, which had turned into mud, fell to ground, it disappeared as if it was absorbed. However, this was not the only abnormality.
“C-Chief! The cannons!”
“What!?”
Hearing an artilleryman scream, the young chief turned his eyes towards the cannons.
“Im... Impossible... “ Those words unconsciously escaped from his lips.
The lower part of the mountain cannons started to turn into mud and sink into the stone walls.
(What on earth is this?! What’s going on?!)
The young chief was bewildered. It was something beyond his understanding.
But, what he was certain was that the things that would be the key to making the rebellion a success and to oppose the humans was about to disappear now.
“W-What should we do..?!” The young chief panicked.
But, the abnormalities occurring were not done yet. This time, a dreadful sound could be heard near his feet.
“What is it this time?!” The unforeseen circ.u.mstances that happened one after another made the young chief shout in frustration.
Then, he saw the next abnormality occurring near his feet.
However, as the sound echoed, it seemed like there was nothing happening to the stone walls at first glance.
“C-CHieeffff!!” A violent scream echoed.
The young chief raised his face and clearly recognized the abnormality this time.
“No way... Impossible, there is no way!” His surprise was on a different level than the previous one.
However, that was natural because the scenery in front of him was shifting downwards step by step.
“Don’t tell me... Will the stone walls sink too..?!” His line of sight
continued to drop slowly.
The stone walls where he stood at started sinking as they turned into mud starting at the bottom.
“Aah...” He moaned. He can’t do anything any longer.
When the stone walls surrounding the town disappeared, it would spell the end of the town.
The young chief who understood this crumbled powerlessly and kneeled on the spot.
The voices of the artillerymen calling for instructions could be heard. However, the young chief could only grasp at the pendant at his chest while feeling lost.